Submission for the April 7th Joint Meeting of
The Planning & Transportation Committee and
The Works Committee

Dear Members of the Two Committees,

Re: Don Valley Corridor Transportation Master Plan

Last year, following our participation in the April 29 public consultation
at S Walter Stewart Library, I signed a submission from the Friends
of the Don East on the DVC TMP. The submission praised the plan
for its vision, stating in part:

“The second draft Don Valley Corridor Transportation Master
Plan, presented at a series of public meetings in April, successfully
integrates transportation planning with strategic environmental
protection. It also responds to concerns raised by the previous
City Council, Friends of the Don East, Don Mills Residents Inc,
and other community organizations in rejecting a 2002 proposal
to expand the car-carrying capacity of the DVP.

“Instead, the Plan proposes increased mass transit and
improved traffic flows while incorporating a vision that includes
reduced air emissions and limits on the environmental impact of
moving millions of people through and around the Don Valley. ….

“This plan has mostly got it right. It sends a strong message
about the need for improved management of population growth and
smart transportation, based on expanding the capacity of the TTC,
Go Transit, and high occupancy vehicle lanes. And it makes a real
effort to incorporate the environmental protection of the Don
Valley itself, one of the most important environmental features
of our community.”

Please note that while I retain a deep admiration for the Plan,
I am no longer involved with the Friends of the Don East and that
I now Chair The Taylor Massey Project.

At this time, while we recognize that most of the specific elements
of the Transportation Management Plan are outside of the Taylor
Massey watershed, we offer the following single comment and recommendation:

Comment: While new infrastructure and management strategies
under the Transportation Plan will help ease congestion within the
study area, vehicle emissions generating air pollutants and greenhouse
gases will extend to an air-shed greater than its footprint.
Recommendation: We request that the Joint Meeting of the two
Committees look outside of the boundaries of the study area and
ensure the health of an extended air-shed, and that you consider
the following motion:

“That the City identify the acquisition of the Warden Hydro
Corridor, just outside of the study area and as recommended in
the City’s Natural Heritage Study, as a priority, for the
following purposes:

To turn the Corridor into an extensive and heavily planted
greenspace, partly to off-set increased air pollution and greenhouse
gas emissions from increased transportation in the Don Valley
Corridor and partly as an much-needed addition to natural heritage
and passive recreational areas in this part of the City;

To remove existing hydro towers within the Corridor no longer
in use, perform minimal grading within the Corridor for aesthetic
purposes, and to locate both ponds and recreational and cycling
trails within the Corridor; and

To develop the recreational trail as a part of the Taylor
Massey Trail, as proposed by the Taylor Massey Project and described
on their website, to both connect all of the riparian areas
of the watercourse as well as to connect the Taylor Massey system
to similar greenspace trails in the City.

A not-to-scale attempt at a drawing to show the location of the
Warden Hydro Corridor, just outside of the study area, is enclosed
overleaf, as is a hyperlink to the section of our website dealing
with the location, naturalization, and infrastructure costs of the
proposed Taylor Massey Trail.